Security measures sent to Nixon

Security measures sent to Nixon

May 18th, 2013 in News

Missouri House of Representatives Director of Operations Brad Werner assesses the paper-strewn floor as he exits the House Chamber following the adjournment of the final day of the legislative session.

Photo by
Kris Wilson

With just 2 1/2 hours to spare before the Legislature's 6 p.m. deadline Friday afternoon, the state Senate cast the final votes needed to send Gov. Jay Nixon a bill re-imposing closed-records status for security and emergency response plans for schools and other public buildings.

"This was something that we had in state law, but it expired in December 2012," Sen. Mike Kehoe, R-Jefferson City, reminded colleagues as he asked them to vote for the House version of the bill, sponsored by Rep. Caleb Jones, R-California.

"It's very, very important that we get this law back, so that we can protect the security plans of our various public entities."

The bill originally covered only the public building safety plans.

But lawmakers expanded it to include making sure that flight logs on state-owned aircraft are public records, as are the recordings made from cameras in the Capitol's second-floor hallway outside the Governor's Office.

But the pictures taken by the security cameras inside the office are to be closed records, Kehoe said.